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Monday, January 07, 2008

Stickler Sticking around at MSHA

Richard Stickler, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, will remain in his post even though his 2006 recess appointment has expired. Late Friday, President Bush announced Stickler would remain on the job as an acting administrator. Stickler may continue in the interim role for another 210 days, according to the Associated Press.

Bush installed Stickler by recess appointment in October 2006 because several senators opposed his nomination. Stickler worked for Beth Energy Mines of Amity, Pennsylvania for 30 years, before heading the Pennsylvania Bureau of Deep Mine Safety from 1997 to 2003. According to the United Mine Workers (UMWA), mines run by Stickler had accident rates double that of the national average for six of eight years, including two fatal accidents at a mine Stickler managed for five years.

Mine safety has frequently been in the news over the past two years, usually for tragic reasons. In response to several mine disasters in 2006 (particularly Sago and Darby), Congress passed the MINER Act and mandated MSHA promulgate enforcing regulations within one year.

Stickler's record on enforcing the MINER Act has been mixed. MSHA has made little progress in implementing key provisions of the law, such as improving mine seals and mine rescue equipment, as a recent Washington Post article highlights. One bright spot came in December when MSHA levied a heavy fine against a delinquent mine operator as the MINER Act empowers the agency to do.

Stickler's record is not surprising — there has been a declining focus on ensuring mine safety during the Bush administration. A recent Department of Labor Inspector General report found that MSHA is conducting about one in seven of the inspections the law requires. Ultimately, MSHA's failures will be one of the many chapters in the Bush record that evince the administration's hostility toward public health, environmental and worker protections.